“We
have reached a ‘perfect storm’ with the alignment of five key factors that are
driving new excitement and enthusiasm for leveraging technology to transform
teaching and learning,” proclaims the latest Speak Up survey report, released
in April by Project Tomorrow.
The
annual survey, in its ninth year, measures usage and opinions of technology in
the classroom and at home from thousands of K-12 teachers, students, and parents
in the U.S. While the survey doesn’t address technology in higher education, Project
Tomorrow sees signs that the growing use of tech tools at K-12 levels does
influence higher ed, especially as more students arrive on campus with
expectations about technology and coursework.
The
five transformative factors cited in the report are:
- Greater understanding of the potential for technology to help schools meet curriculum standards.
- More parents, teachers, and administrators using mobile technologies for personal and professional purposes.
- Funding cutbacks forcing schools to seek technological solutions to save money or raise revenues.
- Technology creating a bridge between home and school, allowing parents to take a more active role in education.
- Employers pressing schools to turn out tech-capable graduates.
The
report notes all five factors have existed for some time now, but only recently
have they approached a tipping point. “Like puzzle pieces, these five factors
support one another, but also display unique characteristics that affect the
readiness of some schools and districts to move forward with their plans for
digital conversions,” says the report, while asking whether schools are
prepared for conversion.
